Device for mobile image communication

ABSTRACT

The device for mobile communication comprises a first and a second camera ( 41, 42 ), which are faced towards opposite sides of the device ( 2 A,  2 C). The cameras ( 41, 42 ) each comprise an optical lens ( 40 ) and a photosensitive semiconductor device ( 30 ). The lens ( 40 ) and the semiconductor device ( 30 ) are assembled together with a carrier body ( 2 ) which is provided with an aperture ( 20 ) between the lens ( 40 ) and the semiconductor device ( 30 ). The carrier body ( 2 ) is preferably provided with a pattern of conductive tracks ( 1 ) which extends from a first side ( 2 A) to an opposite side ( 2 C) of the body. The two cameras may have the same carrier body ( 2 ). The device for mobile communication further comprises a display, means for switching either one of the cameras and the projection of images thereof on the display on or off, as well as means for standing the device on a surface.

The invention relates to a device for mobile communication with a firstside and an opposed second side, which device is provided with a cameracomprising a lens and a photosensitive element and with a picture screenon which images caught by the camera can be pictured.

Such a device is known from WO-A 01/63926. The known device is a mobiletelephone with a display, which device is further provided with a unitcomprising a camera and a loudspeaker. The unit is completed with ahousing to which the camera and the loudspeaker are fixed withmechanical clamping connections. The unit is present in a separatecompartment which is connected to the rest of the device via a verticalshaft and is rotatable about this shaft. Rotation about the shaftrenders it possible to aim the camera at the first side or at the secondside.

It is a disadvantage of the known device that assembling of the cameraand the loudspeaker together with the housing is difficult. As FIG. 7shows, the housing is built up from a first and a second part, which canbe joined together after assembling of the camera and the loudspeaker.

It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide a device of thekind mentioned in the opening paragraph which can be manufactured moresimply and which nevertheless provides the possibility of recordingimages both at the first side and at the second side.

This object is achieved in that

-   -   a second camera is present, comprising a lens and a        photosensitive element,    -   the first camera is oriented towards the first side of the        device, and    -   the second camera is oriented towards the second side of the        device.

At least two cameras are present in the device according to theinvention, oriented in opposite directions. The cameras are preferablyfixed to a carrier body which is independent of the housing and withwhich at the same time electrical connections to and from the camerasare realized.

It is an advantage of the invention that the cameras need not be presentin a separate unit. In this manner the shaft about which rotation takesplace in the known device can be omitted. This is favorable firstlybecause it makes the assembly simpler. It is favorable secondly becausethere is no necessity for having the electrical connections of thecamera to other components run through the shaft. Not only is such ashaft an expensive component—especially so in combination with a motor—,but it is also sensitive to pressure. In addition, dust and moisture maypenetrate the device along the shaft.

In a preferred embodiment, the first camera and the second camera eachcomprise a carrier body with a first side and an opposed second side,with the lens at the first side and the photosensitive element at thesecond side, which carrier body has an opening which extends from thefirst side to the second side and is arranged between the lens and thephotosensitive element.

This embodiment comprises cameras whose construction is based on acarrier body. The lens and the photosensitive element are componentswhich are fixed to the carrier body. This carrier body gives the cameraa high degree of stability and ease of handling. The carrier body may beblock-shaped, or it may alternatively have a shape that matches thehousings and/or other components.

The carrier body ensures the mechanical support and positioning of thecamera, and at the same time the electrical contacting. This offersmajor advantages over the prior art. It is in fact not necessary now tofix the cameras separately to the housing, which may lead tomisorientation of the camera and an imperfect connection between cameraand housing. Neither is it necessary to place the cameras on a separatecarrier body, which is difficult because the cameras would have to beplaced at two sides of this carrier body facing away from one another.

If the carrier bodies are separate from the cameras, the two arepreferably provided on one and the same portion of the housing. Thecarrier body may be given a suitable shape so as to ensure that the twocameras will have a stable position. It is also possible to connect thecamera to the housing with glue or some other joining agent.

In a favorable embodiment, the first and the second camera have a commoncarrier body. In that case the lens of the first camera and thephotosensitive element of the second camera are present at the firstside of the carrier body. The photosensitive element of the first cameraand the lens of the second camera are present at the second side. Theintegration of two cameras in a common carrier body saves assemblycosts. In addition, the total volume can be reduced. Such a carrier bodyis also suitable for mounting further components, such as a loudspeakerand a display.

In a further embodiment, the picture screen is fixed to the commoncarrier body, and an electrical connection is present across the carrierbody between the photosensitive elements of the cameras and the picturescreen. The presence of the picture screen or display on the samecarrier body as the cameras renders it possible to provide allelectrical connections on the carrier body. The means necessary fordriving and control, known per se to those skilled in the art, may thenbe present, for example, at the second side facing away from the picturescreen. This has the advantage that a supplier of the carrier body withthe cameras and the picture screen himself can test whether the entireassembly functions correctly. A further advantage is the limitation ofthe amount of assembling work and the number of connections to beprovided between individual elements during this.

Electrical contacting of the cameras may take place, for example, bymeans of a substrate provided with a conductor pattern and connected tothe photosensitive element. The photosensitive element may alternativelybe integrated into such a substrate. Such an electrically conductingconnection may be realized in the form of wire bonding or by means ofmetal bumps. Alternatively, the carrier body may be provided at a secondside with a foil having a conductor pattern which is fixed to thecarrier body, for example with glue. It is preferred, however, that theconductor pattern is integrated into the carrier body, such as is thecase, for example, in a synthetic resin or ceramic substrate whichcomprises a plurality of internal conducting layers in accordance with adesired pattern.

It is particularly favorable if the conductor pattern is present atleast substantially at the surface of the carrier body and ismechanically anchored in the carrier body. Such a carrier body isrealized by starting with the conductor pattern on a temporarysubstrate, such that the conductors in the conductor pattern are notconnected to this substrate over the entire surface. Then an insulatingmaterial is provided which fills up cavities between the substrate andoverhanging conductors, while at the same time covering the conductorpattern. After removal of the temporary substrate, the carrier body withthe conductor pattern at its surface is obtained. If the layer in whichthe conductor pattern is defined is chosen to be thin, for examplebetween 10 and 50 μm, the conductor pattern may be provided with aresolution of the same order of magnitude.

In a further modification, the insulating material is provided byinjection molding or a similar technique, for which a mold is used, andthe conductor pattern extends at more than one side. The use of a moldhas the advantage that the carrier body may be brought into a desiredshape. If a separate module is used for the two cameras, for example,the shape may be adapted such that the carrier bodies are mutuallycomplementary at the two sides with the semiconductor elements:projections of the one carrier body fit cavities of the other one.Furthermore, the shape of the carrier bodies is preferably adapted tothe shape of the device.

The presence of the conductor pattern at more than one side is realizedin that the substrate with the conductor pattern is deformed prior tothe provision of the insulating material. It is favorable in particularto bend the substrate at least twice through an angle of approximately90 degrees. This achieves that the conductor pattern extends both at thefirst and at the second side of the carrier body. This provides afavorable manner of electrical contacting when the cameras are presentin a common carrier body.

In general, the device is provided with a lower side and an upper side,the first side extending from the lower side to the upper side. Thepicture screen is adjusted such that, when the lower side of the deviceis placed on a substrate, images are pictured in an upright position onthe picture screen. It is favorable then that the first camera ispresent in a position between the picture screen and the upper side ofthe device, and that an axis of the camera defined by a center of thephotosensitive element and a center of the lens encloses an angle ofbetween 0 and 20 degrees with an axis directed perpendicularly to thepicture screen, with the camera being oriented in a downward positionwith respect to the substrate. It is a known problem with cameras in thetype of devices to which the invention relates that the camera is notpresent straight in front of the user, and that accordingly the pictureobtained is deformed. An adaptation of the orientation of the camera tothe position above the picture screen renders it possible to reduce orprevent this deformation.

The rotated position of the camera with respect to the picture screencan be very well realized by the technology described, where an alreadybent temporary substrate with the conductor pattern is provided in amold. The desired angle between the surfaces can be set in thedeformation process. It is also possible to press in the temporarysubstrate locally, so that local projections or depressions arise. Theshape may be achieved by means of the mold in those portions and atthose sides where no conductor pattern is present.

In a preferred embodiment, means are present in the device by which auser can switch the first and the second camera on and off. Examples ofsuch means are a so-called touchscreen, a specific key on the keyboardfor this function, and an option in a menu. Said means by which the usercan switch the cameras on and off are connected to the cameras viaconductors and means for electrical control. Such means are known tothose skilled in the art.

In a further modification, the device is further provided with means bywhich a user can adjust the display of the images caught by the firstand the second camera. Said means preferably are of the same type as themeans for switching the cameras on and off. It may be possible here thatnot only the image of the first camera or the image of the second camerais shown on the picture screen, but that the two images are displayed inseparate windows. Further digital image processing is also possible, forexample for joining together received images, mounting them to a shortfilm, or processing them into a digital file of reduced size. Such asize reduction is relevant for the transmission of the file over awireless telecommunication link.

In an equally favorable embodiment, the first camera is provided with alens which is optimized for receiving images from a distance of at mostone meter to the lens, and the second camera is provided with a lenswhich is optimized for receiving images from a distance of at least onemeter to the lens. The use of two cameras aimed in different directionsrenders it possible for each camera to be chosen to suit the distancesand objects at which they are aimed. Besides the optimization of thelens, the photosensitive elements may be chosen to be different, so thatthe resolution of the first camera differs from the resolution of thesecond camera. Other aspects that may be weighed in the choice of lensand photosensitive element are inter alia the amount of movement of theobject per unit time; the desired color and color correction; and thepossibility of adapting the camera orientation manually or with a motor.

In a further embodiment, means are present by which the device can beplaced on a substrate such that at least one of the cameras can recordan image desired by a user without the user having to hold the device.If a user wishes to catch a certain image during some time, it isadvantageous that the or she can place the device on a substrate. Anexample that springs to mind is the use of the device as a digitalcamera, or the use of a mobile telephone during video conferencing. Thedevice, and in particular a mobile telephone, however, does not have ashape such that the device remains in a position in which the camerarecords the desired image. Indeed, an upright position of the mobiletelephone or a slightly forward or backward inclined position will bedesired for a mobile telephone. The embodiment provides means for thispurpose, i.e. for positioning the device.

A first embodiment of the means for positioning is a U-shaped stand withtwo legs and a connecting bar, which stand is rotatable about an axisthrough the two legs and substantially parallel to the connecting bar.The connecting bar may be provided with a flat surface for a stableplacement, which surface can be rotated with respect to the legs. To setthe angle of the device with respect to the substrate more precisely, itis favorable if the position where the legs are mechanically joined tothe device can be shifted along the device.

A second embodiment of the means comprises a holder with a base surfaceand a raised rail at a first and a second side. A complementary part, orone or several projections at the device corresponding with the rail,ensures that the device can be fixed in the rail. Positions may bedefined by means of widened and narrowed portions in the rail.

A third embodiment of the means comprises one or several substantiallyrod-shaped carriers of suitable length which can be fixed to the devicein a number of positions. These carriers essentially form additionallegs.

These and other aspects of the device according to the invention will beexplained in more detail with reference to diagrammatic Figures, inwhich:

FIG. 1 shows a first side of the device;

FIG. 2 shows a second side of the device facing away from the firstside;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the device provided with means forpositioning the device;

FIG. 4 is a perspective exploded view of a compact camera suitable foruse in the device;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the camera in an assembled state, at anangle of 180° with respect to the view of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 shows two cameras assembled on a common carrier body;

FIG. 7 shows the carrier body of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 shows an embodiment which is an alternative to FIG. 6, many morecomponents being present on the carrier body; and

FIG. 9 shows the carrier body of FIG. 8.

The Figures are not drawn to scale, and identical components have beengiven the same reference numerals in the various Figures.

FIG. 1 diagrammatically shows the front of a device for mobilecommunication 100.

FIG. 2 diagrammatically shows the rear of the device 100. The device 100is an example of a hand-held device, but the invention may find a widerapplication in other such devices, such as a PDA, a palm top or portablecomputer, and also a DECT telephone, where a portable device iswirelessly connected to an exchange connected to a wired telephonenetwork. The device 100 is provided with a first camera 41, a secondcamera 42, a housing 104, a picture screen 65, a set of keys 66, anantenna 110, a loudspeaker 63, and a microphone 69. The device isfurthermore provided with means 120 for placing the mobile telephone ona base surface in a stable manner. Said means in this example areU-shaped with legs 121, 122 and a connecting bar 123, such that the legscan rotate about an axis 124. The connecting bar 123 can also rotatewith respect to the legs 121, 122. A user can switch the first and thesecond camera 41, 42 on and off by means of the keys 66 or by touchingthe screen 65—this then being a touchscreen mechanism—, with or withoutprojection on the picture screen 65. Preferably, a separate key 66 ispresent for these functions or for a number thereof, so that the usercan adapt the cameras 41, 42 and the display of recorded images on thepicture screen 65 in a very simple manner.

FIG. 3 shows the device 100 in perspective view, with a slightlydifferent set of keys 66 being provided. This Figure shows how thedevice can be positioned on a base surface 200. The legs 121, 122 arerotated and shifted along the rail 125 for this purpose. The connectingbar 123 rotates slightly during this, so that it rests flat on the basesurface 200. The device 100 is securely placed in that positions aredefined in the rail, in particular by means of widened or deepenedportions. The device may be aimed at an object to be observed by thecamera 41 in this manner, for example a user's face during a telephoneconference. Alternatively, the positioning means 120 may be collapsedtowards the front of the device, so that a position is obtained in whichthe second camera 42 (not shown here) is oriented slightly upwards withrespect to the base surface 200.

FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic, perspective, exploded view of an electronicdevice according to the invention comprising a compact camera. FIG. 5diagrammatically shows this device in perspective view and in theassembled state at an angle of 180 degrees with respect to FIG. 4. Thedevice 10—see, for example, FIG. 1—comprises a synthetic resin carrierbody 2, made of PPS (=PolyPhenylene Sulphide) here, in which an opening20 is present in which an optical lens 40 arranged in a cylindricalholder 45 is fastened. At the other side of the opening 20, arectangular closed shape 8 of connection regions 1B present atrespective ends 1A of strip-shaped conductors 1 is present on a flatsurface 2A of the carrier body 2. The conductors 1 extend directly tothe end of the surface 2A at one side of the closed shape 8, whereaccordingly the other ends 1C of the strip-shaped conductors 1 arepresent. The strip-shaped conductors 1 present at the other three sidesof the closed shape 8 run partly over the surface 2A, but for the restpartly over two side faces 2B, 2C of the body 2 which are perpendicularto the surface 2A. The conductors 1 present at the rear of the closedshape 8 then distribute themselves over the two side faces 2B, 2C. Thedevice 10 in this example can be particularly compact as a result ofthis. In addition, its manufacture is simple and inexpensive.

Furthermore, a photosensitive semiconductor element 30, a so-called CCD(=Charge Coupled Device) or CMOS (=Complementary Metal OxideSemiconductor) sensor 30, is fastened against the surface 2A of thecarrier body 2 by means of a frame 50. The photosensitive region 31A ofthe sensor 30 is then present opposite the opening 20 in the body 2, andthe connection regions 32 of the sensor 30 are fastened with electricalconduction to connection regions 1B of the strip-shaped conductors 1lying in the closed shape 8.

FIG. 5 shows the device 10 once more from a different side, in theassembled state this time. The signals from the device 10 may be takenoff and/or passed on at the ends 1C of the conductors 1, for examplewithin a mobile telephone (not shown) for which the device 10 isparticularly suitable because of its compactness in three directions.This compactness in addition renders it possible for two cameras to beplaced in one mobile telephone. To simplify the connection, theconductors 1 may extend to another side of the device 10 facing awayfrom the first side 2A and may have a contacting region at this otherside. The connections of the two cameras will be at the same side whenone camera having this contacting region at the first side 2A and onecamera having a contacting region at the side facing away therefrom areused in a mobile telephone.

FIG. 6 shows a device 10 which comprises two cameras on one commoncarrier body 2 and which is suitable for incorporation in an apparatusfor mobile communication.

FIG. 7 shows the corresponding carrier body 2. The carrier body shown ismanufactured from a foil having a first layer of a first material and asecond layer of an electrically conducting material different from thefirst material. The second layer is patterned in accordance with adesired pattern. The foil in this example comprises a first layer ofaluminum and a second layer of copper. After the foil has been deformedby bending and, if so desired, impressing, the insulating material isprovided in a mold. The contours of the body are defined by the shape ofthe mold, including openings 20 through the body and cavities 60 for themounting of components. Then the first layer is removed from the foil byetching, polishing, a combination of the two, or by mechanical means.The conductor pattern thus comes to lie at the surface of the carrierbody 2. Depending on the specific embodiment, the conductor pattern willthen lie flush with the surface, slightly below it, or slightly aboveit. The carrier body 2 may be manufactured according to the methoddescribed in EP02076427.0 (PHNL020319).

This procedure yields not only openings 20, but also a cavity 60 with aside wall 61 and a bottom 62, the conductor pattern extending up to thebottom 62. The cavity 60 is suitable for accommodating elements such asa loudspeaker 63 and a buzzer 64, as shown in FIG. 6. The device 10 isfurther provided with two lenses 40 and two photosensitive semiconductorelements 30 which are aligned to mutually remote sides 2A, 2C of thedevice 2. One lens 40 and one photosensitive semiconductor element 30then form the camera 41 together with the interposed electricallyinsulating body. To realize this, the conductor pattern extends from thefirst side 2A via the second side 2B to the third side 2C.

Two cameras are present in this embodiment, but it is possible inprinciple for more cameras to be present. Furthermore, the axes of thecameras are defined as lines through the centers of the lens 40 and thephotosensitive semiconductor element 30 and are thus substantiallyparallel. It is possible, however, to modify the orientation of one orboth cameras 41 as desired through adaptation of the angle through whichthe foil is bent and a corresponding adaptation of the mold forproviding the insulating material. Electrical contacting to the outerworld is necessary for controlling all electrical elements in a suitablemanner. This contacting is realized with a flexible foil (not shown)which is connected to a contacting region 70 on which ends 71 ofconductors 1 are present in a substantially parallel arrangement. It isnoted that the conductors 1 come from various elements 30, 63, 64. Theconductors preferably have a width of the order of 10 to 50 μm and arepreferably spaced apart by between 40 and 80 μm. It is further notedthat the conductor tracks may have different widths outside thecontacting region 70; in the embodiment the conductors 1 to the buzzerand the loudspeaker have a width of approximately 200 μm, each suchtrack ending in three conductors 1 in the contacting region 70.

FIG. 8 shows an alternative embodiment of the device 10, and FIG. 9shows the corresponding electrically insulating carrier body 2. The bodyin this example is the carrier for a large number of desired electronicelements of a mobile telephone. These are in particular the elementswhich provide the interface to the user. At the rear side 2C (not shown)of the body 2, conductors 1 provide interconnections between theelements, and connection regions are present for the placement ofelements which implement the required control functions. It is alsopossible for a contacting region for a flexible foil or a connector tobe defined at that side. Connections are present for a semiconductorelement of a camera 41, a loudspeaker 63, a buzzer 64, a display 65,keys 66, a touchscreen 67, lamps 68 (preferably light-emitting diodes),and a microphone 69, FIG. 9 showing the connections of the elements bytheir reference numerals followed by A (for example 30A). It is notedthat the body has the advantage that a direct connection between thecameras 41 and the picture screen 65 and the keys 66 and/or thetouchscreen 67 is also possible without connections having to berealized by means of connectors or flexible foils. The number ofconnections may thus be advantageously reduced, and the camera 41 andpicture screen 65 can be mutually attuned in the assembly.

1. A device for mobile communication with a first side and an opposedsecond side, which device is provided with a camera comprising a lensand a photosensitive element and with a picture screen on which imagescaught by the camera can be pictured, characterized in that a secondcamera is present, comprising a lens and a photosensitive element, thefirst camera is oriented towards the first side of the device, and thesecond camera is oriented towards the second side of the device.
 2. Adevice as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the first camera andthe second camera each comprise a carrier body with a first side and anopposed second side, with the lens at the first side and thephotosensitive element at the second side, which carrier body has anopening which extends from the first side to the second side and isarranged between the lens and the photosensitive element.
 3. A device asclaimed in claim 2, characterized in that the first and the secondcamera have a common carrier body such that the lens of the first cameraand the photosensitive element of the second camera are present at thefirst side of the carrier body, while the photosensitive element of thefirst camera and the lens of the second camera are present at the secondside.
 4. A device as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that thepicture screen is fixed to the common carrier body, and an electricalconnection is present across the carrier body between the photosensitiveelements of the cameras and the picture screen.
 5. A device as claimedin claim 2, characterized in that the carrier body is electricallyinsulating with a conductor pattern at a surface, which conductorpattern extends at several sides of the carrier body and is mechanicallyanchored in the carrier body.
 6. A device as claimed in claim 1,characterized in that the device is provided with a lower side and anupper side, the first side extending from the lower side to the upperside, the picture screen is adjusted such that, when the lower side ofthe device is placed on a substrate, images are pictured in an uprightposition on the picture screen, the first camera is present in aposition between the picture screen and the upper side of the device,and an axis of the camera defined by a center of the photosensitiveelement and a center of the lens encloses an angle of between 0 and 20°with an axis directed perpendicularly to the picture screen, with thecamera being oriented in a downward position with respect to thesubstrate.
 7. A device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in thatmeans are present in the device by which a user can switch the first andthe second camera on and off.
 8. A device as claimed in claim 1,characterized in that the device is further provided with means by whicha user can adjust the display on the picture screen of the images caughtby the first and the second camera.
 9. A device as claimed in claim 1,characterized in that the first camera is provided with a lens which isoptimized for receiving images from a distance of at most one meter tothe lens, and the second camera is provided with a lens which isoptimized for receiving images from a distance of at least one meter tothe lens.
 10. A device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in thatmeans are present by which the device can be placed on a substrate suchthat at least one of the cameras can record an image desired by a userwithout the user having to hold the device.